NAKHON RATCHASIMA — People in a remote village of Prathai district are concerned for their safety after a villager reportedly spotted what he thought were five tigers on his farm.

Photos by Prasit Tangprasert

Community leaders and volunteers are now out hunting for the five animals in Ban Nong Pai of tambon None Ped.

Songka Suwara, 66, said he was taking his cows to graze in his rice field when he spotted five animals, which looked like tigers, roaming around on his property. The animals, three had white fur and two were brown, were about 400 metres from him.

Mr Songka rushed to inform Porn Chansoongnern, an assistant village chief, who called in male villagers and volunteers to search for the animals.

The team combed the area and spotted the five animals, Mr Porn said, adding that the white ones were about one metre high and had beautiful fur while the brown ones were smaller.

The animals ran away when the group approached them.

Numerous big and small footprints were seen at the spot where the animals were discovered.

Mr Porn said similar footprints were also found on another villager’s property, about two kilometers from the spot.

Authorities believed it was likely the animals were leopards released by a wildlife trafficking gang who escaped from Non Sila Highway policemen in the adjacent province of Khon Kaen about a month ago.

The villagers fear for their safety and want concerned agencies to send experts to explain the situation to the community and catch the cats, Mr Porn added.